As a sixth grader, Ella Bettner of Faribault, Minnesota, made and sold bracelets to help classmates who couldn’t afford their school lunches. That simple act of generosity has grown into an amazing community program. Ella, who's now in high school, has created a charity group called No Tummies Left Behind.

The group not only wipes out school lunch debt, but also supports local food banks, partners with community meal programs, and works to address food insecurity outside the classroom. So far, No Tummies Left Behind has raised over $22,000.

Ella recently made a presentation to the Faribault School District, where she presented a check that wipes out the district’s negative lunch balance so every student starts with a clean slate.

School board member Casie Steeves congratulated Ella for all her hard work and accomplishments through the years. “The last five years have been awesome to see you grow, just yourself personally and your organization,” Casie said. “Keep up the great work and it’s humbling to watch you do what you do.”